Minor Pilgrammage (Umra)

Allah's Apostle said, "(The performance of) 'Umra is an expiation for
the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward
of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except
Paradise."

Ursa bin AzZubair and I entered the Mosque (of the Prophet) and saw
'Abdullah bin Umar sitting near the dwelling place of Aisha and some
people were offering the Duha prayer. We asked him about their prayer
and he replied that it was a heresy. He (Ursa) then asked him how many
times the Prophet had performed 'Umra. He replied, 'Four times; one of
them was in the month of Rajab." We disliked to contradict him. Then
we heard 'Aisha, the Mother of faithful believers cleaning her teeth
with Siwak in the dwelling place. 'Ursa said, "O Mother! O Mother of
the believers! Don't you hear what Abu 'Abdur Rahman is saying?" She
said, "What does he say?" 'Ursa said, "He says that Allah's Apostle
performed four 'Umra and one of them was in the month of Rajab."
'Aisha said, "May Allah be merciful to Abu 'Abdur Rahman! The Prophet
did not perform any 'Umra except that he was with him, and he never
performed any 'Umra in Rajab."

I asked Anas how many times the Prophet had performed 'Umra. He
replied, "Four times. 1. 'Umra of Hudaibiya in Dhi-l-Qa'da when the
pagans hindered him; 2. 'Umra in the following year in Dhi-l-Qa'da
after the peace treaty with them (the pagans); 3. 'Umra from
Al-Jr'rana where he distributed the war booty." I think he meant the
booty (of the battle) of Hunain. I asked, "How many times did he
perform Hajj?" He (Anas) replied, "Once. "

I asked Anas (about the Prophet's 'Umra) and he replied, "The Prophet
performed 'Umra when the pagans made him return, and Umra of
al-Hudaibiya (the next year), and another 'Umra in Dhi-l-Qa'da, and
another 'Umra in combination with his Hajj."

The Prophet performed four 'Umra (three) in Dhi-l-Qa'da except the
(one) 'Umra which he performed with his Hajj: His 'Umra from
Al-hudaibiya, and the one of the following year, and the one from
Al-Jr'rana where he distributed the booty (of the battle) of Hunain,
and another 'Umra with his Hajj.

I asked Masruq, 'Ata' and Mujahid (about the 'Umra of Allah's
Apostle). They said, "Allah's Apostle had performed 'Umra in
Dhi-l-Qa'da before he performed Hajj." I heard Al-Bara' bin 'Azib
saying, "Allah's Apostle had performed 'Umra in Dhi-l-Qa'da twice
before he performed Hajj."

I heard Ibn 'Abbas saying, "Allah's Apostle asked an Ansari woman (Ibn
'Abbas named her but 'Ata' forgot her name), 'What prevented you from
performing Hajj with us?' She replied, 'We have a camel and the father
of so-and-so and his son (i.e. her husband and her son) rode it and
left one camel for us to use for irrigation.' He said (to her),
'Perform 'Umra when Ramadan comes, for 'Umra in Ramadan is equal to
Hajj (in reward),' or said something similar."

We set out along with Allah's Apostle shortly before the appearance of
the new moon (crescent) of the month of Dhi-l-Hijja and he said to us,
"Whoever wants to assume Ihram for Hajj may do so; and whoever wants
to assume Ihram for 'Umra may do so. Hadn't I brought the Hadi (animal
for sacrificing) (with me), I would have assumed Ihram for 'Umra."
('Aisha added,): So some of us assumed Ihram for 'Umra while the
others for Hajj. I was amongst those who assumed Ihram for 'Umra. The
day of 'Arafat approached and I was still menstruating. I complained
to the Prophet (about that) and he said, "Abandon your 'Umra, undo and
comb your hair, and assume Ihram for Hajj;." When it was the night of
Hasba, he sent 'Abdur Rahman with me to At-Tan'im and I assumed Ihram
for 'Umra (and performed it) in lieu of my missed 'Umra.

The Prophet and his companions assumed Ihram for Hajj and none except
the Prophet and Talha had the Hadi with them. 'Ali had come from Yemen
and he had the Hadi with him. He ('Ali) said, "I have assumed Ihram
with an intention like that of Allah's Apostle has assumed it." The
Prophet ordered his companions to intend the Ihram with which they had
come for 'Umra, to perform the Tawaf of the Ka'ba (and between Safa
and Marwa), to get their hair cut short and then to finish their Ihram
with the exception of those who had the Hadi with them. They asked,
"Shall we go to Mina and the private organs of some of us are
dribbling (if we finish Ihram and have sexual relations with our
wives)?" The Prophet heard that and said, "Had I known what I know
now, I would not have brought the Hadi. If I did not have the Hadi
with me I would have finished my Ihram." 'Aisha got her menses and
performed all the ceremonies (of Hajj) except the Tawaf . So when she
became clean from her menses, and she had performed the Tawaf of the
Ka'ba, she said, "O Allah's Apostle! You (people) are returning with
both Hajj and 'Umra and I am returning only with Hajj!" So, he ordered
'Abdur Rahman bin Abu Bakr to go with her to At-Tan'im. Thus she
performed 'Umra after the Hajj in the month of Dhi-l-Hijja. Suraqa bin
Malik bin Ju'sham met the Prophet at Al-'Aqaba (Jamrat-ul 'Aqaba)
while the latter was stoning it and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Is this
permissible only for you?" The Prophet replied, "No, it is for ever
(i.e. it is permissible for all Muslims to perform 'Umra before
Hajj."

We set out with Allah's Apostle shortly before the appearance of the
new moon of Dhi-l-Hiija and he said, "Whoever wants to assume Ihram
for 'Umra may do so, and whoever wants to assume Ihram for Hajj may do
so. Had not I brought the Hadi with me, I would have assumed Ihram for
'Umra." Some of the people assumed Ihram for 'Umra while others for
Hajj. I was amongst those who had assumed Ihram for 'Umra. I got my
menses before entering Mecca, and was menstruating till the day of
'Arafat. I complained to Allah's Apostle about it, he said, "Abandon
your 'Umra, undo and comb your hair, and assume Ihram for Hajj." So, I
did that accordingly. When it was the night of Hasba (day of departure
from Mina), the Prophet sent 'Abdur Rahman with me to At-Tanim.

The sub-narrator adds: He ('AbdurRahman) let her ride behind him. And
she assumed Ihram for 'Umra in lieu of the abandoned one. Aisha
completed her Hajj and 'Umra, and no Hadi, Sadaqa (charity), or
fasting was obligatory for her.

That 'Aisha said, "O Allah's Apostle! The people are returning after
performing the two Nusuks (i.e. Hajj and 'Umra) but I am returning
with one only?" He said, "Wait till you become clean from your menses
and then go to At-Tan'im, assume Ihram (and after performing 'Umra)
join us at such-and-such a place. But it (i.e. the reward if 'Umra) is
according to your expenses or the hardship (which you will undergo
while performing it)."

We set out assuming the Ihram for Hajj in the months of Hajj towards
the sacred precincts of Hajj. We dismounted at Sarif and the Prophet
said to his companions, "Whoever has not got the Hadi with him and
likes to make it as 'Umra, he should do it, but he who has got the
Hadi with him should not do it." The Prophet and some of his wealthy
companions had the Hadi with them, so they did not finish Ihram after
performing the 'Umra. The Prophet came to me while I was weeping. He
asked me the reason for it. I replied, "I have heard of what you have
said to your companions and I cannot do the 'Umra." He asked me, "What
is the matter with you?" I replied, "I am not praying." He said,
"There is no harm in it as you are one of the daughters of Adam and
the same is written for you as for others. So, you should perform Hajj
and I hope that Allah will enable you to perform the 'Umra as well."
So, I carried on till we departed from Mina and halted at Al-Mahassab.
The Prophet called 'Abdur-Rahman and said, "Go out of the sanctuary
with your sister and let her assume Ihram for 'Umra, and after both of
you have finished the Tawaf I will be waiting for you at this place."
We came back at mid-night and the Prophet asked us, "Have you
finished?" I replied in the affirmative. He announced the departure
and the people set out for the journey and some of them had performed
the Tawaf of the Ka'ba before the morning prayer, and after that the
Prophet set out for Medina.

"A man came to the Prophet while he was at Ji'rana. The man was
wearing a cloak which had traces of Khaluq or Sufra (a kind of
perfume). The man asked (the Prophet ), 'What do you order me to
perform in my 'Umra?' So, Allah inspired the Prophet divinely and he
was screened by a place of cloth. I wished to see the Prophet being
divinely inspired. 'Umar said to me, 'Come! Will you be pleased to
look at the Prophet while Allah is inspiring him?' I replied in the
affirmative. 'Umar lifted one corner of the cloth and I looked at the
Prophet who was snoring. (The sub-narrator thought that he said: The
snoring was like that of a camel). When that state was over, the
Prophet asked, "Where is the questioner who asked about 'Umra? Put off
your cloak and wash away the traces of Khaluq from your body and clean
the Sufra (yellow color) and perform in your Umra what you perform in
your Hajj (i.e. the Tawaf round the Ka'ba and the Sa'i between Safa
and Marwa). "

While I was a youngster, I asked 'Aisha the wife of the Prophet. "What
about the meaning of the Statement of Allah;

"Verily! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al Marwa, are among the symbols
of Allah. So, it is not harmful if those who perform Hajj or 'Umra of
the House (Ka'ba at Mecca) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them?
(2.158) I understand (from that) that there is no harm if somebody
does not perform the Tawaf between them." 'Aisha replied, "No, for if
it were as you are saying, then the recitation would have been like
this: 'It is not harmful not to perform Tawaf between them.' This
verse was revealed in connection with the Ansar who used to assume the
Ihram for the idol Manat which was put beside a place called Qudaid
and those people thought it not right to perform the Tawaf of As-Safa
and Al-Marwa. When Islam came, they asked Allah's Apostle about that,
and Allah revealed:--

"Verily! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwa Are among the symbols of
Allah. So, it is not harmful of those who perform Hajj or 'Umra of the
House (Ka'ba at Mecca) to perform the going (Tawaf) between them."
(2.158) Sufyan and Abu Muawiya added from Hisham (from 'Aisha): "The
Hajj or 'Umra of the person who does not perform the going (Tawaf)
between As-Safa and Al-Marwa is incomplete in Allah's sight.

Abdullah bin Abu Aufa said: "Allah's Apostle performed 'Umra and we
too performed 'Umra along with him. When he entered Mecca he performed
the Tawaf (of Ka'ba) and we too performed it along with him, and then
he came to the As-Safa and Al-Marwa (i.e. performed the Sai) and we
also came to them along with him. We were shielding him from the
people of Mecca lest they may hit him with an arrow." A friend of his
asked him (i.e. 'Abdullah bin Aufa), "Did the Prophet enter the Ka'ba
(during that 'Umra)?" He replied in the negative. Then he said, "What
did he (the Prophet ) say about Khadija?" He (Abdullah bin Aufa) said,
"(He said) 'Give Khadija the good tidings that she will have a palace
made of Qasab in Paradise and there will be neither noise nor any
trouble in it."

We asked Ibn 'Umar whether a man who had performed the Tawaf of the
Ka'ba but had not performed the Tawaf between As-Safa and Al-Marwa
yet, was permitted to have sexual relation with his wife. He replied,
"The Prophet arrived (at Mecca) and circumambulated the Ka'ba seven
times and then offered a two Rak'at prayer behind Maqam-lbrahim and
then performed the going (Tawaf) between As-Safa and Al-Marwa (seven
times) (and verily, in Allah's Apostle you have a good example." And
we asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah (the same question) and he replied, "He
should not go near her till he has finished the going (Tawaf) between
As-Safa and Al-Marwa."

I came to the Prophet at Al-Batha' while his camel was kneeling down
and he asked me, "Have you intended to perform the Hajj?" I replied in
the affirmative. He asked me, 'With what intention have you assumed
Ihram?" I replied, "I have assumed Ihram with the same intention as
that of the Prophet. He said, "You have done well. Perform the Tawaf
of the Ka'ba and (the Sai) between As-safa and Al-Marwa and then
finish the Ihram." So, I performed the Tawaf around the Ka'ba and the
Sai) between As-Safa and Al-Marwa and then went to a woman of the
tribe of Qais who cleaned my head from lice. Later I assumed the Ihram
for Hajj. I used to give the verdict of doing the same till the
caliphate of 'Umar who said, "If you follow the Holy Book then it
orders you to remain in the state of Ihram till you finish from Hajj,
if you follow the Prophet then he did not finish his Ihram till the
Hadi (sacrifice) had reached its place of slaughtering
(Hajj-al-Qiran)."

Abdullah the slave of Asma bint Abu Bakr, told me that he used to hear
Asma', whenever she passed by Al-Hajun, saying, "May Allah bless His
Apostle Muhammad. Once we dismounted here with him, and at that time
we were traveling with light luggage; we had a few riding animals and
a little food ration. I, my sister, 'Aisha, Az-Zubair and such and
such persons performed 'Umra, and when we had passed our hands over
the Ka'ba (i.e. performed Tawaf round the Ka'ba and between As-Safa
and Al-Marwa) we finished our lhram. Later on we assumed Ihram for
Hajj the same evening."

Whenever Allah's Apostle returned from a Ghazwa, Hajj or 'Umra, he
used to say Takbir thrice at every elevation of the ground and then
would say, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah; He is One
and has no partner. All the kingdoms is for Him, and all the praises
are for Him, and He is Omnipotent. We are returning with repentance,
worshipping, prostrating, and praising our Lord. He has kept up His
promise and made His slave victorious, and He Alone defeated all the
clans of (non-believers)."

Whenever Allah's Apostle left for Mecca, he used to pray in the mosque
of Ash-Shajra, and when he returned (to Medina), he used to pray in
the middle of the valley of Dhul-Hulaifa and used to pass the night
there till morning.

Anas said, "Whenever Allah's Apostle returned from a journey, he, on
seeing the high places of Medina, would make his she-camel proceed
faster; and if it were another animal, even then he used to make it
proceed faster."

Narrated Humaid that the Prophet used to make it proceed faster out of
his love for Medina.

I heard Al-Bara' saying, "The above Verse was revealed regarding us,
for the Ansar on returning from Hajj never entered their houses
through the proper doors but from behind. One of the Ansar came and
entered through the door and he was taunted for it. Therefore, the
following was revealed: --

"It is not righteousness That you enter the houses from the back, But
the righteous man is He who fears Allah, Obeys His order and keeps
away from What He has forbidden So, enter houses through the proper
doors." (2.189)

I was with Ibn 'Umar on the way to Mecca, and he got the news that
Safiya bint Abu Ubaid was seriously ill. So, he hastened his pace, and
when the twilight disappeared, he dismounted and offered the Maghrib
and 'Isha' prayers together. Then he said, "I saw that whenever the
Prophet had to hasten when traveling, he would delay the Maghrib
prayer and join them together (i.e. offer the Maghrib and the Isha
prayers together)."